Post a secret and hide in the garden

One of the most intriguing blogs I have seen is one in which people anonymously send in their deepest, darkest secret (or just plain stupid, i.e: "I like the smell of my farts"). While contemplating if I had any secrets worth sending, I wondered why I would want to share something with a faceless crowd when my closet friends and family remain ignorant. The answer: I could "confess" this secret while being faceless myself.

Not to say that all secrets are sins or are deplorable, but the sheer weight of some thoughts may just thrust one deeper into the sands of silence. Anyways, this subject seems to be connected to
events of ancient times, more specifically, the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden. So often, like Adam and Eve, we think we must cover ourselves and hide. Confess our sins or darkest thoughts? That might bring punishment. Let someone know our true longings and fears? But then we could be hurt. It's a risk, but we are lying to ourselves (or are being lied to) if we think the risk is not worth taking. If one pays attention to the Bible, it will become clear that we are designed for community, to live among others who truly know us. James tells us to "confess our sins to one another." This is something we should all strive to do, no matter how difficult.

A Tragedy in the American Church

This summer, after much long-suffering I am finally able to indulge my new rock climbing habit by buying a membership at the local rock gym in hopes to better prepare myself for the real rock that is found all over the Texas hill country. While enjoying by Friday night climb, I came across something that tested my gag reflex as nothing has before. It wasn't someone breaking there tibula from a twenty foot fall or a difficult hold ripping an old callous off one of my chalked up fingers. What I saw was a flyer advertising a "Christian" event at the local water park. Not only is there going to be a $1000 prize giveaway this July 29, there will also be a battle of the bands "worship band" competition.

Fortunately, no one heard me wretching.

From a Christ-centered perspective, how do we justify making worship a competition? We can't. It's not about who is better at singing "Praise Adoni." Jesus criticized the Pharisees for such things. They were concerned only about the show of prayer, the show of tithing money. The pharisees were not concerned about God, but about what other men thought of them.
If we try to identify ourselves as the "best singer," "best writer," or best anything else, our lives will be a failure, for there will always be someone greater. I doubt that I will ever attain the status of any of the apostles, but I can't be concerned with my reputation or image. My main concern most be Christ, because in the end it is only Him who will be glorified.

I fear that we are so concerned with relating to the current generation that we will sacrifice anything -- even a clear presentation of the gospel. Our hunger for "coolness" is going to hinder the very work that God sent us here to do.

Suffering from Slight Exhaustion

Well, night 2 with Michael and Matt is all well -- except for the wallet I lost. Don't worry Mom, it's undercontrol. I need some money for gas, so I'm going panhandeling Sunday afternoon! People are especially generous after a church service (or so I hope).

Other than that, Michael and I had some awesome adventures at the Old Mill, which is by far more dangerous than the Blanco River Tree. Running at break neck speed, I launched my body off of a precarious cliff about three times. It is somewhat important to note that I'm landing in a deep area of water that is only a few feet from some very beautiful, but very shallow rocks. I only hit bottom once, but it wasn't too bad. Only my left hand had to be bandaged (thanks for the insurance card mom).

We then took an adventurous hike with Sandy and Matt on Satan's Spine. A thoroughly sweaty ordeal with out too much excitement. We only had to outrun one State Trooper and an army of pyro-proned Boy Scouts.

What's on the agenda tomorrow? More cliff jumping hopefully. Apparently there is no max limit on the insurance card like there is on credit cards.

On a more serious note, while looking for my wallet, Matt and I had an enlightening discussion in regards to the condition of the Church. It seems that there are many flaws and shortcomings in the body of Christ, and I'm not talking about the trivial differences in worship or preaching style. But a bigger problem than this are the Christians who witness and experience these shortcomings and decide to leave the church. We must consider the implications of such things.

Where will you go when you leave the body? The Book of Acts testifies to the power of a Christ-centered and Christ-loving church. We are called to be His hands and feet to this world. Billions do not Christ. All suffer to some extent or another. How can one individual minister to such a big world? Furthermore, Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6 that while we are fleeing from that which is evil, we must pursue that which is good. What is a Christian pursuing when he leaves the church? He may be able to say Jesus, but Christ, in his unsurpassing glory and goodness and truth is too much for one person to comprehend. We need to engage others and learn from them what they themselves learned from God. That type of interaction can only occur in community.

We must also examine who composes the Church: people. We all have our baggage; we all have our failures and the Church will reflect the people that comprise it. But all is not lost. Christ is with us. We are told that the same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead resides in us. Christ chose us to represent Him until he returns. Why? I do not know. Maybe to demonstrate His grace. A man lost in the deception of drugs may look at the life of Dan Reiter and think, "If God can save that guy, then maybe my case isn't so hopeless after all."

It's a late night, so I may not be completely coherent, but we must realize that we can't abandon the church -- technically we are the church. If we are dissatisfied we should not run away, but realize that the Church will always be flawed until the return of Christ. Till then we must rise up and help her minister to the lost.